Hazard reduction burns will be carried out in a major conservation estate over the coming months to reduce the risk of deadly bushfires.
A hazard reduction burn – also known as prescribed burn or fuel reduction burn – is a fire deliberately started to reduce the severity of future bushfires.
This season’s hazard reduction burns program will concentrate on 70 hectares of land within White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate.
The five burns are scheduled to happen between now and June at the following locations:
White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate will be closed to the public during any hazard reduction burns and for a period afterwards until it is deemed safe.
Council’s Acting General Manager of Infrastructure and Environment, Cathy Murray, said residents should visit Ipswich City Council’s Facebook page or sign up for My Ipswich Alerts to get the most up-to-date information about when burns would take place.
“The exact dates will depend on weather conditions and may change at short notice,” Ms Murray said.
“However not all burn sites can take place at the same time as they require different wind directions for the burn pattern to be effective and to reduce the amount of smoke for residents and nearby roads.”
“Council will endeavour to keep the timing of each individual burn as close to each other as possible to limit the time that White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate is closed.”
Residents closest to the hazard reduction burn areas have been notified by mail in advance.
Ms Murray said that hazard reduction burns were a key tool to help reduce the risk of potentially damaging wildfires.
“Hazard reduction burns remove ground fuel such as dried grass, leaves and twigs, which reduces the risk of a wildfire spreading through a conservation estate and threatening wildlife and homes,” Ms Murray said.
“They also have positive environmental impacts by encouraging healthy regeneration of local native species.”
As a land manager, Ipswich City Council has a responsibility to carry out hazard reduction burns to meet its obligations under the Queensland Fire Services Act 1995.
Click here to register for My Ipswich Alerts to receive free early warning notifications via email or smartphone.
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